Pot lights and lighting · Toronto & GTA
Pot light and lighting installation in Toronto and the GTA
Slim LED pot lights, pendants over an island, stair lights and under-cabinet strips, laid out so the room looks right and wired so the dimmers actually dim. Houses and condos across the GTA.
Our work
Pot lights in a finished room
Recessed pot lights and feature lighting in a living room we wired: laid out from a ceiling plan, on dimmers, and finished cleanly around the trim.
Lighting that's planned
Good lighting starts with a layout
The difference between a room that feels finished and one that feels like an office is rarely the fixture. It's where the lights go, how many there are, and how they're switched. We walk the room with you and plan the layout around how you use it: task light over counters and desks, softer even light in living spaces, accent light on a feature wall or staircase.
We also think about the details that are hard to fix later. Pot lights too close to a wall throw harsh scallops, a grid that ignores the furniture leaves dark corners, and lights on one switch can't set a mood. Splitting a room into two or three zones on separate dimmers costs little at install time and makes a big difference every day.
Colour and quality of light
LED fixtures come in a range of colour temperatures. Warm white, around 2700K to 3000K, suits most living spaces, while slightly cooler light can work in kitchens and workspaces. We'll suggest a colour that matches the room and keep it consistent throughout the house, so you don't end up with yellow light in one room and blue-white in the next.
What we install
Lighting for every room
Pot lights
Slim LED recessed lights for kitchens, living rooms, basements and hallways, retrofitted into existing ceilings or installed during a renovation.
Pendants and chandeliers
Over islands, dining tables and stairwells, with proper support boxes for heavier fixtures and the right height above the surface.
Under-cabinet lighting
LED strips or puck lights that put light on the counter where you work, wired to a switch rather than a plug.
Stair and step lights
Low-level lights in stair walls and risers for safety at night, a detail that makes a custom home feel finished.
Accent and feature lighting
Wall washers, cove lighting and picture lights to show off a feature wall, ceiling detail or art.
Switches and dimmers
LED-rated dimmers, multi-way switching on stairs and long hallways, and smart switches where you want them.
Choosing fixtures
Which kind of pot light fits your ceiling
| Slim LED (canless) | Traditional housing with LED trim | Surface-mounted slim light | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Most retrofits into existing drywall ceilings | New builds and open ceilings during renovation | Concrete condo ceilings and shallow spaces |
| Ceiling depth needed | Very little | More, for the housing | None, mounts to the surface |
| Insulated ceilings | IC-rated models are designed for contact with insulation | Must be IC-rated and airtight where insulation is present | Not affected |
| Look | Flush and clean | Flush, with trim options | A thin disc on the ceiling |
Pot lights in top-floor ceilings
Ceilings below an attic need extra care. A fixture that isn't rated for contact with insulation can overheat, and one that isn't airtight lets warm, moist air into the attic, which can lead to frost and moisture problems in a GTA winter. We use fixtures rated for the location and seal around them properly.
Condos and older homes
In Toronto condos we check the ceiling construction and the building's renovation rules before quoting, and book elevator and access time with management. In older houses with plaster and lath ceilings, common in Forest Hill and the old city, we plan wire routes carefully to avoid cracking original plaster.
I hired Marrast Contracting for a full home electrical inspection and was extremely impressed. The inspection was completed by their Master Electrician, and they provided a detailed, formal report certified under ECRA/ESA.
How it works
From layout to lights on
Walkthrough and layout
We plan positions, zones and switching with you, room by room.
Written quote
Fixtures, dimmers, labour and the ESA permit in one price.
Installation
Small, clean cuts, wires fished through the ceiling, and floors protected.
Dimmers and testing
Every zone tested across its full dimming range.
ESA inspection
The work is inspected and you receive the Certificate of Acceptance.
Questions
Pot lights and lighting: common questions
How many pot lights do I need?
It depends on ceiling height, room use and the beam of the fixture, not a fixed number per square foot. A kitchen needs light on the counters, a living room needs softer, even light, and a hallway needs fewer than you'd think. We lay out the positions with you before cutting a single hole.
Can you install pot lights in a condo?
Often, yes. Many condos have concrete ceilings, which usually means working within an existing bulkhead or drop ceiling, or using slim surface-mounted fixtures instead. We check the ceiling and the building's rules first, and coordinate access with property management.
Will installing pot lights make a mess?
Modern slim LED fixtures need only a small round hole, and we fish wires through existing ceilings wherever possible. Some layouts need a few small access holes, which we keep to a minimum. We protect floors and furniture and clean up before we leave.
Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer?
Usually because the dimmer was designed for old incandescent bulbs. LEDs need a dimmer rated for them, and the fixture and dimmer have to be compatible. We match them when we install.
Do pot lights need an ESA permit in Ontario?
Yes, in almost every case. Adding pot lights means new boxes and new wiring, and ESA expects to be notified before that work starts. We file the notification and book the inspection. Swapping an existing fixture for a similar one can be treated differently, so ask us if that's all you need.
Can pot lights go into a plaster ceiling?
Yes, with more care than drywall needs. Plaster on wood lath cracks if it's cut roughly, so each opening is cut slowly with a sharp hole saw while the ceiling around it is supported. Plaster is also thicker, which narrows the choice of fixture clips. Some textured ceilings from past decades should be tested for asbestos before anyone cuts into them.
To price your job, send us
- How many lights, and what type
- Which rooms or areas
- New lights, or replacing existing ones
- Photos of the ceilings and areas
Where we work
Pot lights and lighting across the GTA
We serve homeowners, builders and businesses across Toronto and the GTA.
- North York
- Toronto
- Forest Hill
- Etobicoke
- Scarborough
- Mississauga
- Vaughan
- Richmond Hill
- Oakville
- Caledon
- King
- Barrie
- Markham
- Aurora
- Newmarket
- Brampton
- Alliston
- Wasaga Beach
- Collingwood